EDITORIAL Recall petition fair way to resolve issue It .should come as no surprise that ASUO Vice Pres ident Jo Sonja Watson is the subject of a recall effort. It should also come as no shock that the petition drive is being led by College Republicans. Once again, our campus political factions raise their ugly heads. Watson and the recallers have been subjected to some of the most vicious mudslinging seen in these parts since Michael Colson was ousted from the IFC last year But it doesn't change the basic nature of the issue. Watson is guilty of shoplifting from the University Bookstore in November. 1990 — of that there is no doubt She was tried, convicted, sentenced to do com munity service and fined. What is ut stake is whether Watson's "mistake ’ re flects on her ability to do her job MemlHsrs of the Col lege Republicans think so and have started the recull. Watson and ASUO President Jennifer Hills disagree. The only fair arbitrators of this dispute are the vot ers. Students will have to deride whether the punish inent of a recall election fits the crime of shoplifting. both Watson and Bills contend the crime was just a mistake and has no reflection on her political life. Perhaps, but what a leader does in his or her pri vate life definitely has ramifications in the political arena. It is not unfair to ask whether Watson’s error in judgment will be repeated again Watson and Hills claim the shoplifting charge would have made no difference had it come out during the election That opinion has no possible verification except from a recall petition. If students feel strongly about the rec all, they will sign it If they disagree with the petitioners, they’ll simply walk the other way. Hut if voters get that opportunity, it will Ire enough. From this corner, there is no support or condemna tion for removing Watson from office However, to deny students — voters — their Itrgal right to speak on this matter is neither fair or just Opposition to this pe tition simply removes the "student" from student gov ernment. However, irony is not entirely absent from this is sue. For petitioners to get a recall on the ballot, they need signatures from 10 percent of the student popula lion. Only 6 percent of the students voted in the last election. The discrepancy between the two numbers should not be overlooked. Bills and Watson, who have claimed great student support since the story broke, should welcome this op portunity to clear Watson’s name. If voters really no believe in Watson, they will not sign the petition and the recall effort will wither. If it does go to a ballot and is defeated, the same thing happens. There will be no further recourse against her. The voters will have spo ken. one way or the other. For proclaimed defenders of student’s rights, that should strike them as fair. Yes. we have all made mistakes in our lives, but we are ail not ASUO vice presidents Politicians have an obligation not only to the people who put them into of fice. but the ones who voted against them as well There is something called public trust, and University students will have to decide whether Watson broke it Ultimately it is up to the individual student. No urging, one way or the other; just think about it. ()rcyon Daily PO HOI JtftS tUGf Ni. OH€GONS»MQ3 T*o Oogoo Da > I t* put-u*N«fcj Ua y Moxlary tfvougf’ I '«i»y cJ\>orvg !'*i fccfxxl ,0.1/ a xl T..*w>day .1 il l'K.rvU«y Uwf«ng t*'# &y IN# O«QOn CXi> i r^urdnJ (^fra'wvg Co I v . a! 1*«1 lJr',vt*/VTy of OotfOO, l Ou^Vl IN# l ■> o* !N# l>vfvu'^ •> *ilh c"-.#* at S - 'o ICO Of IN# l <0 M«r v/„v. 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A. k» . •»„ • u ' -v Ju O V 4*1 T JOO V* an SN0R'N6 f US : resiotr.is dr s read - r~ 1 • me kes^ar. iitrarv C V u PtEA$E oo. r domt^ „* ^ pf..^a£6 a r^i\(, . j v > J r OPINION Reagan as far as the eye can see THE FINE PRINT PETERS To thr sound of rushing I 1t> jots .mi) droning ox presidents, tho Ronald Koiigiin presidential llhrurv thus doftulod These libraries are nothing now Hverv former president has one The Idea of continuing tfieir political influent.e from beyond the grave is just too at tractive Presidents can now screw up the next generation of voters with little or no effort There was enough gushing going on at the opening to run a hydro electric plant, and sufli cient hot utr to float the Hin tlrnhurtf l ive presidents four ex. one present attend od the ceremony, which quic k |\ turned into a Ronald Reagan love-In Said President Hush. "No leader since ('hlirehill used words so effectively to help freedom uni ham our world Possibly If true, that surely tells the sad state ol politics in the last 40 years However, Churchill at least knew the day the flattie of Britain began Oops, wrong president Sorry l '.eorge Richard Nixon said Reagan "restored Americ u s military might " Gerald Ford countered with "(he was) able to articu late the highest hopes and deepest beliefs of the American people Definitely not a day for those with weak stomachs Hopeful ly. some benevolent airline is sued to the crowd some com plimentary "c ourtesy bugs An entire library devoted to the Ronald Reagan legacy is enough to boggle the- mind and sic ken the stomach There hasn't been tins much self-con gratulatory hat kslapping in a lotcg time something we i an all he thankful for But the library isn't com plrli' Mol yet Through intrepid reporting and wide spread doling out of bribe money. I have managed to gel a preliminary list of dis plays that will lie added to the collection doming soon to Ihe Reagan library: The ")ust Say No" reading room Dedicated to Reagan's fa vorite post-presidential saving Patrons can browse the special ly made wallpaper filled with the infamous "I don't remem ber'' quote The "What Scandal?" exhib it A broom c loset full of hot air. dust and skeletons Iran These libraries are nothing new. Every former president has one. The Idea of continuing their political influence from beyond the grave Is Just too attractive. Contra never looked so gixid The "I'm In Charge Here” wing Ihe comedy portion of the collection Watch the thrill ing moment as Reagan's first Secretary of State Alexander Haig makes a fool out of him self on national television while attempting an ill-fated grab at the reins of presidential power The "Deficit, Smeficit" dis play A continuously clicking monitor of the national debt Reagan’s biggest contribution to the American way of life, this exhibit has a few technical problems The whirring speed of the numbers keeps burning out the engine. The "Faces of Reagan" hall way A pictorial of the different faces Reagan displayed during his eight years in office All two of them The "Kdwin Nleese: Man or Myth" video extravaganza Not lor tin- faint-heartened Lis ton to the former attorney gen er.il discuss at length his political views Antacids tab lets and evanide pills .ire in cluded in the admission prit e The "Better Than a Fortune Cookie" astrological chart All of Reagan's decisions put in an easy-to-read format, corre sponding to where his House of Venus was for the month It ex plains a lot. most notably his nomination ol Robert Bork to the Supreme Court The "Now You See Him. Now You Don’t" memoriul A summation of Donald Regan's contribution to the Reagan ad ministration. A hard to find ex hibit, It's located in the buse ment Around a corner Near the boiler room The "We Deny Everything eternal flame State of the art technology feeds c opios of Ki!t\ Kelley's Nancy Reagan biogra phy into the lire to keep this display a hurtlin' The “Evil Mt Empire" rotun da A granite slab engraved with the names of all the for rner Red Army soldiers now flipping McBorshl burgers in Most ow The “I Wanna Be a Presi dent” corridor Dedicated to former Reaganite James Iiaker, who, in his new job, continu ously strives to make himself look good while at the same time racking up the frequent flyer miles. He should Ik; eligi ble for that trip to Hawaii any day now. Reagan had his faults (under statement) but at least he was fun to have around Only Dana Garvey does a really good George Bush impression, but everybody can mimic the fa mous Reagan drawl and goofy grin Go ahead. Do something nice for yourself. Do a Reagan im pression It'll make you fool much better. I promise.